Payne confirmed that the county's first fatal flu related death happened over the weekend at St. Monica's Senior Citizen Home in Racine. A 92-year-old woman was diagnosed with the flu just hours before she passed. The flu complicated the woman's pre-existing breathing problems.

"Basically, it attacks the lungs. It makes it harder to breathe, and when the lungs are attacked and you can't breathe, you know we need air to live," Payne said.

"Each year, we do see influenza deaths in the state, across the country, which is why we urge people to get the influenza vaccines," said Jeffrey Langlieb of the Racine County Health Department.

Langlieb said there have been 40 hospitalizations this flu season so far. Last year, there were 13 and the year before, 20.

WISN 12 News did not see any signs at the Senior Center where the woman died, and administrators did not return any calls, but reportedly some nursing homes have altered their visitation policies because of the flu.

The Health Departments said something like that would not be unusual under guidelines from the state Department of Health Services.

"And that guidance usually states that they should post signs on their doors to let them know that if the facility is experiencing influenza cases or respiratory illnesses that they urge visitors to visit when necessary, or either if you are sick to don a mask, or try not to enter the facility," Langlieb said.

But the Health Department said there have not been any extraordinary measures aside from the usual ones that have been implemented in Racine County.

This is the second known flu-related death in Wisconsin this season. One child has died from the flu.

The Milwaukee Health Department said it has seen a drop in flu-related emergency room visits over the past week.